What Jets QB Sam Darnold must do to make his final four games a success

Jets quarterback Sam Darnold practiced fully for the first time since suffering a strained. He talked about his progress on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018.
Andy Vasquez, Staff Writer, @andy_vasquez

New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (14) looks for an open receiver in the second half. The Jets defeat the Indianapolis Colts 42-34 in Week 6 on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in East Rutherford.(Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold will almost certainly make his return on Sunday against the Bills — even if coach Todd Bowles won’t publicly admit it.

It’s been a rollercoaster season for Darnold. His NFL debut featured a pick-6 on his first professional throw and a commanding win. He had two strong games against the Broncos and Colts. And then he struggled before suffering a strained foot last month.

In the three games Darnold was out, the Jets (3-9) season descended into misery. They’ve now lost six straight, and almost certainly cost Bowles his job. But there’s still time for Darnold to finish his rookie year on an upward trajectory.

“We're just going to go out there and compete really hard,” Darnold said. “But yeah, definitely want to gain some momentum going into the offseason.”

Here’s what he must do to gain that momentum.

Cut down on turnovers

When Darnold walked off the field in Miami on Nov. 4, he was leading the NFL with 14 interceptions. After sitting out four weeks (three games and the bye) he’s still leading the league in interceptions.

That’s not good.

Now that Darnold has had time to reset and get healthy, taking care of the football should be his top priority for the final four games. He needs to make better reads before the snap, see the field more clearly as the play develops, and make better decisions with the football.

Darnold threw a career-high four interceptions in his last game against the Dolphins. Two of them were brutal decisions. Two of them were him trying to make plays on fourth down and not entirely his fault. Still, there have been several passes that have been dropped this year.

Darnold called his play that day “stupid.” He knows he must make better decisions with the ball in his last four games.

Brave the cold

When Darnold was drafted, there was warranted concern about his ability to throw the ball in the cold. And for good reason: Darnold grew up in Southern California and hasn’t really played in any cold weather games.

That is about to change. The temperature is expected to hover around freezing. Darnold made a statement at practice this week, when on a frigid day he walked onto the field wearing short sleeves.

And while the media isn’t allowed to watch practice, his coaches say he’s adjusted to throwing the ball precisely.

“He's focused and it fun watching him get used to throwing in the cold,” offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said. “It's a new experience for him and he's handling it well.”

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Of course, practice is one thing and the game is another. If Darnold steps up and plays well against the Bills in the blustery conditions, he’ll put all those worries about him not being a cold weather quarterback to rest.

If he struggles, it’s not the end of the world but something to watch.

Develop chemistry

Oct 21, 2018; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (14) stands on the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium.(Photo: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Jets’ offense, and a lot of guys who probably won’t be back next season. But this is a good chance for Darnold to build chemistry with a few players.

Receiver Robby Anderson is a restricted free agent and will likely return next season. Darnold did a nice job connecting with him through the first five games of the season, linking up for three touchdowns all on the deep ball. If they could reestablish that connection in the coming weeks, it could serve the Jets well next season.

Free-agent-to-be Quincy Enunwa has an uncertain future. But with a weak wide receiver free agent market and the Jets’ lack of weapons, there’s a good chance he’ll be back next year. Enunwa was Darnold’s most reliable target, catching 25 passes on 47 targets from Darnold this season.

Rookie Chris Herndon has established himself as the Jets’ best pass-catching tight end and will be back next season. Darnold and Herndon hooked up for three touchdowns in three games before Darnold was hurt in Miami.

“It’s going to take some time to get back on track,” Herndon said. “As a team we’re going to make sure we support.”

If Darnold can get back on track quickly, he’ll likely have a positive finish.

Stay patient, smart

Whatever happens in these final four game, it’s not going to make or break Darnold’s career. It’s important for Jets fans to remember that. But for Darnold, it’s vital. There will be a temptation to go out there and try to make something happen — both for himself and for the team. And that’s a good thing. But Darnold and the Jets must also be mindful of the situation.

The Jets can be aggressive with their play calling, but they can’t make calls that are going to repeatedly expose him to punishment. Meanwhile, Darnold must resist the urge to try forcing things — both throwing the football and running. Doing a Josh McCown-style helicopter move is respectable, but also not very smart. Especially for a 21-year-old with his whole career in front of him.

Darnold has done a good job of projecting patience and taking the long view during this disappointing season. Now let’s see if he can carry that over onto the field for the final four games.